“I Neither Despise Nor Fear” August 2014
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The Cogswell Courier The Battle of Châteauguay, by E.H. de Holmfield “I neither despise nor fear” August 2014 Cogswell Courier August 2014, Volume 25, Issue 2 The mission of the Cogswell Family Association is to perpetuate the memory, history and genealogy of the Cogswell family with particular emphasis on descendants of John and Elizabeth Cogswell who arrived in America in 1635. This mission is accomplished by collecting, preserving, recording and publishing family documentation, memorabilia and memorials, as well as promoting friendship, understanding, mutual assistance and collaborative research across the membership. Published by the Cogswell Family Association Three times a year: April, August & December Deadlines for each issue: First day of the month previous to issue Send queries, news, stories, pictures, suggestions to: Malcolm Cogswell, Editor 66 North Main St., Sutton, QC, J0E 2K0 Canada E-mail address: [email protected] Telephone (450) 538-0295 Membership information (on a calendar basis from January to December) Write to: Edward R. Cogswell 214 140th St NW, Tulalip, WA 98271-8105 E-mail address: [email protected] Send genealogical information or enquiries to: Historian: Eloise (“Elli”) Gassert 5902 618 Fourth Avenue, Lady Lake, FL 32159 E-mail: [email protected] Historical Database keeper: Roger Bohn 28 Ross St., Batavia NY 14020 e-mail: [email protected] Web Sites Cogswell Family Association: http://www.cogswell.org Cogswell Family Association Blog http://cogswellfam.wordpress.com/ Cogswell Courier Blog: http://cogswellcourierblog.wordpress.com/ CFA Facebook: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113661535340209&v=info Two Cogswell BrothersBrothers,, Part 2 In the April issue of the Courier, we told of the first two of four brothers, sons of Dr. William and Judith (Badger) Cogswell. Their children were as follows: William, born June 5 th , 1787, (See April Courier) Julia, born February 20 th , 1789; Julia married Greenleaf Clarke, of Atkinson, March 1 st , 1810. They were the parents of William Cogswell Clarke and John Badger Clarke. Hannah Pearson, born July 6 th , 1791; Hannah married William Badger, of Gilmanton, who was later Governor of New Hampshire. Their children were Col. Joseph and Capt. William, of the U. S. Army. Joseph Badger, born August 30 th , 1793; Joseph married to Judith Peaslee, October, 1817. They had six children, three sons and three daughters: William was a successful physician in Bradford, Mass.; Francis was a popular teacher and later superintendent of schools in Cambridge, Mass. and Thomas was a dentist in Boston. Nathaniel, born March 5 th , 1796; Rev. Nathanial Cogswell married Susan Doane, October, 1825. He was a settled clergyman at Yarmouth, Mass., a man of great influence, and his son, John B. D. Cogswell, was Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Thomas, born December 7 th , 1798, (see April Courier) Francis, born December 21 st , 1800, (see below) George, born February 5 th , 1808, (see below) John, born February 14 th , 1810, and died August 6 th , 1811 FRANCIS COGSWELL Francis Cogswell was born in Atkinson, December 21 st , 1800. He died at his home in Andover, Mass., February 11 th , 1880. His death closed a long, honorable and useful career. He was a gentleman of the old school, strong, steadfast and true. God gave him talents of a high order, and he improved them all. He was honest, not from policy, but because it was his nature to be. His ambitions never clouded his convictions of duty, nor swerved him from the path which his high sense of probity and honor pointed out; and, after more than fifty years of business activity and association with thousands of people in almost every relation in life, he could say, as he did: "I die contented. I have no ill will towards any one, and I know of no reason why any one should have any ill will against me." He loved his family with a love that never wearied and never forgot, which dared all things, suffered all things, and did all things that could make for their comfort and happiness. He loved his books. He was a staunch friend, a kind neighbor and a generous citizen, who never left to others the duties he could discharge. In business, he was sagacious without being a schemer, patient and industrious without being a slave. He had judgment, foresight and reliability, and he worked his way to success openly, steadily and surely. He died universally respected and widely and sincerely mourned. Mr. Cogswell was the son of Dr. William Cogswell, the son of Nathaniel Cogswell of Atkinson, who was born July 11 th , 1760, and was married to Judith Badger, July 22 nd , 1786, the daughter of the Hon. Joseph Badger, Senior, of Gilmanton, N. H., born May 15 th , 1766. Francis Cogswell received his early education in the public schools and at Atkinson Academy, from which he entered Dartmouth College, where he graduated with honor in the class of 1822. Selecting the law for his profession, he prepared himself for admission to the bar at Exeter, was admitted in 1827, and commenced practice in Tuftonborough, N. H., the same year. He removed, in 1828, to Ossipee. In 1833, he removed to Dover, and was appointed clerk of the court in Strafford County. Nine years later, he located at Andover, Mass., and became treasurer of the Ballardvale Woolen Company. May 16 th , 1845, he was chosen cashier of the Andover Bank, to which institution he devoted himself with great fidelity until he was called to the presidency of the Boston & Maine Railroad in 1856. In this position, his systematic methods, untiring industry, ability to manage men, careful regard for the public and respect for its opinions and stern integrity asserted themselves, to the great advantage of the corporation and the approval of its patrons; and his resignation, which he tendered in 1862, caused wide-spread regrets, which grew more and more pronounced until 1865, when he yielded to the general demand, and accepted a re-election. His second term lasted until 1871, when he felt compelled to lay down the heavy burdens inseparable from the office, and retire from active life. In addition to these, Mr. Cogswell held many other public and private trusts of great responsibility; in all of which, his sterling qualities were quietly but effectively asserted. He was a director of the Andover Bank for twenty years; treasurer of the Marland Manufacturing Company for twenty-two years; a trustee of Gilmanton and Atkinson Academies and of the Punchard free school at Andover; an overseer of Harvard 1 Two Cogswell BrothersBrothers,, Part 2 College and senior warden of the Episcopal Church at Andover, where he was a constant worshiper for many years. Many private properties were also committed to his care, and his advice was constantly in demand by his neighbors and acquaintances. Mr. Cogswell was a man of pronounced political views, but would never accept political honors. Prior to the war, he was a Democrat; but the attempt of the southern slaveholders to destroy the Union made him an earnest Republican and one of the strongest supporters of the loyal cause. He was chairman of Andover's war committee, and gave liberally of his means to her soldiers and their families. Mr. Cogswell was married, June 8 th , 1829, to Mary S. Marland, daughter of Abraham Marland, of Andover, by whom he had eight children. Three of these were John F. Cogswell, of Andover, at the head of the well known and very successful express company of Cogswell & Co., Lawrence, Mass.; Thomas M. Cogswell, of Lawrence, engaged in the same business as his brother and Mary M., wife of William Hobbs, Esq., of Brookline, Mass. HON. GEORGE COGSWELL, A. M., M. D. George Cogswell was born in the town of Atkinson, N. H., February 5 th , 1808. He received his preliminary education at Atkinson Academy, where his love for scientific investigation soon became manifest. He commenced the study of medicine with his father, whose wise instruction and safe counsel did much to shape the future career of the aspiring student. In his desire for a wider culture in the line of his chosen profession, he became a private student to Reuben D. Mussey. M. D., L.L. D., and for two years enjoyed the instruction of this distinguished lecturer on anatomy and surgery. Early in 1830, he became a pupil of John D. Fisher, M. D., of Boston, who, at that time, was the most noted auscultator (one who listens for sounds in the body) in New England. Dr. Fisher showed his confidence in his ambitious student by giving him the main practical charge of the House of Industry, at that time located in South Boston. The grateful pupil held the most intimate relations with his distinguished teachers during their lives. In 1830, he was graduated Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth College, with the honors of his class, and the same college conferred upon him the honorary degree of Master of Arts in 1865. Dr. Cogswell at once commenced the practice of his profession in Bradford, Mass., in August, 1830, and soon entered into a large and successful business. He brought to his work the discipline of hard and intelligent study, and his great desire was to advance the standard of medical practice in Essex County. He was the first physician in "Essex North" who made intelligent use of auscultation and percussion in the diagnosis of disease. In his desire for a wider knowledge of his profession, especially of surgery, he visited Europe in the fall of 1841, spending the winter in visiting the hospitals of Paris and in attending lectures of distinguished men. In the spring, he visited the principal cities of Italy, and for a while studied in the hospitals of London.